Walter Moorhead, 74, was arrested and charged with felony manslaughter after Delaware State Police say he shot and killed 39-year-old Santos Maria Chilel Soto, whom he allegedly mistook for a deer while hunting from a ground blind. The shooting occurred around 7:40 p.m. in a field near Ellendale; troopers provided emergency care but the victim later died at a hospital. Moorhead faces additional counts including three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and a firearms charge, and was released on a $43,000 cash bond while the investigation continues.
74-Year-Old Hunter Charged With Felony Manslaughter After Allegedly Mistaking Woman For Deer
Delaware State Police - PHOTO: Walter Moorhead, a 74-year-old hunter from Salisbury, Maryland, was charged with felony manslaughter, September 18, 2026, in the fatal shooting in Delaware of a woman he mistook for a deer, according to the Delaware State Police.
Walter Moorhead, a 74-year-old hunter from Salisbury, Maryland, has been arrested and charged after Delaware authorities say he fatally shot a woman he allegedly mistook for a deer while hunting near Ellendale.
What Happened
Delaware State Police say the incident occurred at about 7:40 p.m. on Friday in a field near Ellendale. According to a preliminary investigation, the victim — later identified as 39-year-old Santos Maria Chilel Soto of Georgetown, Delaware — was walking through the field with a man and two children when Moorhead, hunting from a ground blind, believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle. Troopers who responded provided lifesaving medical care at the scene; the victim was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Moorhead was taken into custody after investigators "determined that he had fired the shot that struck the victim," the Delaware State Police said. On Sept. 18, 2026, he was charged with felony manslaughter and related offenses, including three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court and released after posting a $43,000 cash bond.
Investigation and Next Steps
The Delaware State Police said the shooting remains under investigation and asked anyone with information to contact its homicide unit. Moorhead did not immediately respond to an ABC News request for comment, and it was unclear whether he had retained legal counsel.
Delaware State Police Statement: "The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was walking through the field with a man and two children while Moorhead was hunting from a ground blind. Moorhead believed he saw a deer and fired his rifle, striking the victim."
Victim: Santos Maria Chilel Soto, 39, Georgetown, Delaware.
Suspect: Walter Moorhead, 74, Salisbury, Maryland.
Time: About 7:40 p.m. on Friday.
Charges: Felony manslaughter; three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment; possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Bond: Released on $43,000 cash bond.
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